Sweet Smell of Dawn (Patreon)

It's a weird time to be alive. I guess that could be said for any period. I don't remember things always being so chaotic, but maybe I was young and naïve. Maybe it's a combination of that and a worsening, decaying world. The earth is currently on fire, as it has been for years now: Spain, France, the U.K. All either suffering from wildfires or immense heat they are unprepared for. It's sad. I read about somewhere in Europe, workers were having to place tinfoil on a bridge to prevent further cracks. I read about how people there have drowned from trying to cool themselves off during the heat. They hit record highs, you know. Their homes aren't even equipped with proper A/C, and that includes the trains. Sure, you could blame them for not being prepared, I guess; but the real blame falls on those disregarding clime experts pleading attempts at warning. The rich ignore them and I'm not sure who they plan to sell to when we're all dead. Maybe they think they'll be off living on Mars by then. We all know privatizing space exploration isn't going to help us here on the lower bracket. 

Georgia officially banned abortion yesterday; no procedures are to be performed after 6 weeks conception. If you know anything about reproductive cycles, you know that is essentially a full on ban. There are talks of contraceptives and gay marriage being next on the list. I remember exactly where I was when gay marriage was legalized. Do you? I remember where I was when COVID hit. I remember where I was when Trump was elected. I remember where I was when the SCOTUS draft was leaked and I remember where I was when they officially overturned Roe V. Wade. I think I will remember these moments until the day I die. I hope I don't have to remember the day gay marriage was taken away. I hope I get to remember the day that Roe is reinstated. I hope I get to a remember the day when we show this earth that we love her and cherish her and want to continue to grow and prosper with her. 

Unfortunately, I fear the worst right now. Sorry for all the doom and gloom, but then again, I'm not. We can't keep ignoring this and things are heavy on my mind right now. Thanks for listening.

Here's a lovely little set I closed out my long spring tour in 2021 with. I met up with Tate before sunrise and we played around this gorgeous foggy lake for an hour or so. It was damp and cool and airy and it smelled sweet. Geese were playing nearby and the soft sounds of nature were comforting. I love mornings like this. I hope we get to keep having them.

Photography by Tate Chmielewski
Dress thrifted on tour
Louisville, Kentucky 2022